Bottle opener with pivotally mounted cap skirt engaging means



Jan. 26, 1954 BOTTLE 0 CA G. LEO PENER WIT P SKIRT Filed NAR $667,093

H PIVOT Y MOUNTED ENGAGI MEANS Dec. 7, U

Guy L eon 0rd INVEXTOR.

ATTOR/VEVJ Patented Jan. 26. 1954 BOTTLE OPENER WITH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED CAP SKIRT ENGAGING MEANS Guy Leonard, Houston, Tex.

Application December 7, 1951, Serial No. 260.433

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-33) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bottle openers and relates particularly to an opener for removing the crown type of cap from beverage bottles.

As is well known, the usual crown type metal cap is applied through a crimping operation to the upper bead of the glass bottle, and it has been found that in the usual type of openers, chipping or breakage of this glass bead will oftentimes occur. This damage to the bottle results primarily from the fact that the claw or cap engaging member is immovable since improper placement of the bottle relative to such immovable element will cause the same to engage the glass bead as the cap is stripped or removed from the bottle.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle opener which will efficiently remove the metallic cap without damage or chipping of the glass bottle bead.

An important object of the invention is to provide a bottle opener wherein the cap engaging element or claw is movably mounted whereby as the cap is removed from the bead of the bottle subsequent engagement of the bead with the cap engaging element will cause said element to move away from said bead rather than engaging and damaging the same, as occurs where the cap engaging element is fixed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bottle opener wherein a projection for engaging the central portion of the cap is provided to form a fulcrum point about which the bottle may be moved after the cap engaging element has engaged said cap; fulcruming of the bottle and cap about the projection resulting in the application of a pressure to the central portion of the cap during the removal operation, with said pressure at the central portion of the cap tending to spread the periphery of the cap to assist in the removal operation.

Still another object is to provide an opener of the character described which lends itself to manufacture from metal stampings whereby an extremely simple and efficient opener is provided at a minimum cost.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a bottle opener constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the cap engaging element thereof in normal position prior to the insertion of the bottle cap into the opener, 1

Figure 2 is a similar view with the cap inserted in the opener and prior to removal of the cap',

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the cap in the process of removal from the bottle,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the opener,

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the mounting of the cap engaging element of the form shown in Figure 5. A

In the drawings the numeral l0 designates a base plate or support member which is adapted to be attached by screws H to a wall or other surface A. A pair of outwardly projecting ears or lugs l2 are preferably formed integral with the body and a cap engaging element 13 is adapted to be mounted on a pivot pin 14 between the ears or lugs. The cap engaging element has its outer portion enlarged in transverse width as indicated at M, and a depending claw I5 is provided at the lower end of the element. The claw 15 has a generally arcuate surface to follow the contour of the bottle and the increased width provides for an amplified gripping area. As will be explained, the claw I5 is arranged to engage beneath the crimped edge of the usual crown type cap C of a bottle B. For limiting the swinging movement of the cap engaging element IS on its pivot I4, said element has an extension I6 which projects into an opening H in the base plate and has a limited movement therein.

The lower portion of the outer face of the plate I0 is recessed, as indicated at [8, and projecting outwardly from this recessed outer surface is a projection or pin [9. The outer end of the pin is preferably rounded and the pin is so located with respect to the pivoted cap engaging element [3 that when the bottle cap C is inserted to have its edge engaged by the claw i5, the projection I9 contacts the central portion of the cap C, as shown in Figure 2. Because the cap engaging element [3 is freely pivoted on its pin it will normally assume the position shown in Figure l. The bottle cap C may be readily engaged beneath the claw l5 and moved into contact with the projection l9 which also functions as a stop to properly position the bottle cap with respect to the claw.

After the bottle cap 0 has been engaged with the projection I9 and with the claw 15, as shown in Figure 2, it is only necessary to apply a downward swinging movement to the bottle B. It will be evident that upon such downward swinging of the bottle, the bottle will actually fulcrum about the projection l9. The cap engaging element which has its claw in engagement with the bottle cap edge cannot undergo any downward movement and theclaw thusremains substantially stationary to hold-the edge of the cap in affixed plane. As the cap and bottle fulcrum about the projection I9, said projection applies a pressure to the central portion of the cap and the application of pressure at this point tendsi'toiiflarethe periphery of the cap, that isthereisa defOrmation of the cap which will tend to move the crimped sides of the cap away from the bottle. At the same time, that this pressure is being applied by the projection to the=central portion 10f the cap, the claw I is maintaining the upper edge of the cap stationary and the continued swinging movement of the bottle removes the cap from the bead'20 of said bottle, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3. It is thus obvious that through 'the combination of pressure applied to the central portion of the cap and-the engagement of the claw with the bottle cap edge, an efficient removal of the cap is eifected.

In the event that the bead'20 of the bottle has any tendency to-engage the claw l5-which might result in damage to the bead, the beadwillmerely move the claw out of the way. "This is true be-" cause at the time that the bead engages the claw, said claw is free to swing because the locking action of the claw is produced only through the cap member being simultaneously engaged-by the projection I9 and said claw. As soon as the 'cap' tated by the projection 'or pin 19, it only being necessary to move the bottle inwardly until it contacts said projection. The projectionthus functions not only as a positioning means but as a pressure applying'means which assists in the removal of the cap. 'As above noted; the pivotal .mountingof the cap engaging'element'allows 'said element to freely swing after the cap 'isremovd to preve'ntany chipping or breakage of the bead 20 of the bottle.

In Figures 5 and 6,"atslightlymodified'form of the invention is shownwherein' the opener is constructed of metal stampings. In this form a base plate 2| isadapted to be-attached'byscrews passing through openings 22 to a suitable-wall surface. Upstanding ears 23 which are 'bent-upwardly from the base plate providea means for pivoting a cap engaging element 2d having an inturned claw 25. The element 24 is 'formed with outwardly extending pivot lugs 26 which areg'enorally rectangular in shapeya-s is clearly shown Each rectangular lug immovable.

in Figure 6. within a double-flared opening 2'l-which is-so arranged that swinging movement-of the element 24 inboth directions is limited. -A projection 28 which is comparable to the projection 19 -of the' 'first form is provided on the lower-edge of the plate 2| and is formed by turning up a portion of the material of--which- .the 'base plateconstructed. -The operation of this formis' theasame as the'oper'ation of the first :form of the invention,

' wherebylmanualimanipulation -of said'cap-engaging element is avoided.

4 the bottle cap C indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5 being inserted so that its central portion is engaged by the projection 28 with its edge engaged by the claw 25 of the element 24. Upon a downward swinging movement of the bottle in the manner above described, the projection 28 aplplies .a pressure to the central portion of the bottlecap. C while the claw 25 engagesithe edge of said cap. The pressure applied by projection 28 tends to flare the sides of the bottle cap and the engagement of the claw completes the renm'oval 0f the'capfrom the bottle. Since the cap engagingimember 24 is pivoted any subsequent contact of-the-bead 20 of the bottle with the claw .25 will merely swing the element 24 out of the path of said bead so that damage to said bead is obviated.

Invboth forms of the invention the projection which engages the central portion of the cap "cap within the opener.

"The foregoingdis'closure' and description of the invention is illustrativeand---explanatory thereof and various'changes in the 'size;shape'and-materials, as well'as inthe detailstof the illustrated construction maybe made," within the scope of the appended claims, without, departing from'the spirit of theinvention.

Having describedthe invention, I claim:

1. A bottle opener comprising a base plate, spaced lugs on said base plate extending laterally therefrom, a 'cap engagin .element pivotally mounted on. said'lugs for limited longitudinal swinging movement on said .base p1ate,'a.cap engaging claw on the outer endrof the'element for engaging beneaththe edge.of-a crown cap-.attached to abeadat the mouthrof. a.bottle,.a,projection extending laterally .fromthesurface of the base plate and spaced fromotheclaw of the pivoted element longitudinallyandlaterally-by a-distance which will cause,- engagement. of i the projection withthe central .portion of -.thecap.-whenthe-claw element is engaged beneath-the edge,-of-. said cap to cause an outward flaring-ofthe edge of "said cap as ;said; bottle .ismoved downwardly: relative to said cap,- said =cap engaging element pivoting upwardly and outwardly relative to. said ;bottle-.as

- the edge of thecap so .as to removethe cap. from the. bottle, said plate ,hauing'a recess therein .in alignment with the spacebetween said lugs, and an extension on the innenendofsaid. cap engaging element extending into .said recess-land adapted to contact the .upper --wall of said recess to limit the swinging ofsaid element ina-down ward direction toward'said' projection-to maintain said cap engaging claw spaced -laterallyand longitudinally from said projection.-a distance which-will automatically'cause engagement of the projection with the central iportion when-the claw element is engaged-beneath theedge of. the; cap

.tioned against .za"vertical-..wallvor the alike,v said 5 surface being formed on the opposite side of said Number base plate from said projection and said lugs, and 1,463,139 said base plate having an opening therethrough 1,731,408 for receiving the shank of a screw whereby said 1,974,836

opener can be attached to said vertical wall or 5 2,593,053 the like.

GUY LEONARD.

Number References Cited in the file of this patent 419824 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 982,893 Stephens Jan. 31, 1911 Name Date Rush July 24, 1923 Finnessy Oct. 15, 1925 Schelling Sept. 25, 1934 Porter Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 19, 1934 

